DonMoney4Mgr

Thank you RR for starting Hairston. You did the right thing.

I agree with you, but I don't agree with RR. An 0 for 4 in the six hole with 5 LOB could cost us the game. Casey has been horrible and doesn't deserve to play period. This one game in a short series is huge and RR should play it like its the last.

McGehee, Yuni, and Counsel following Braun/Fielder in the lineup today. Talk about a black hole. 0 for 11, 8 LOB. I hope RR never does that again. Please.

Counsel should never be in the starting lineup again. He is done IMO. I'm tired of the feel good sentimentality of Brewer fans directed at the good ole boy from Whitefish bay. Bill Halls struggles were half what Counsel is experiencing, and we couldn't get him out of town fast enough. Yet there is no outcry for Counsel's departure. It's ridiculous. He is not helping this team with his play in any way. If you want to make him a bench coach, go ahead. Isn't 29 years of not winning a playoff series enough for fans to demand the Brewers put there best possible team on the field from here on out. I guess not.

I have heard RR asked about the possibility of a Green call up. He went on to say minor league numbers don't mean much, just look at Gamel. Personally, I think that's a lame excuse. I don't know what one has to do with the other. Some guys hit well in the minors and fail in the bigs. Others come up and hit right away. (See St. Louis)

Two hits and two RBI's in one game! Is that enough to keep Green at Nashville? I hope not.

The frustrating thing is McGehee was a rookie when he posted a very unexpected .859 OPS as a rookie in 2009. I just don't get why Melvin has been so incredibly stubborn with the McGehee/Green situation in a year he's mortgaged so much to make the playoffs? Please stop the madness Doug, Green wouldn't even have to play all that well to be an upgrade over McGehee. This is a good point. The Cardinals seem to do it quite often without reservation. Ankiel, Rasmas, Freeze, and Jay just to name a few. But all these guys came up and had reasonable success right away.

First impression is I'm not that crazy about this. Last time I saw him pitch his velocity was down around 90-92. Also, this is his worst year for WHIP (1.41) and batting ave. against (.265). Is there a website that compares velocity year to year?

In 09 JJ Hardy had similar struggles but not to the extent of McGehee. I believe Hardy was sent down about a month past the all star break. He didn't get a ton of playing time when he returned and ended the year with 414 AB's, 11 HR's, 47 RBI's, and .229/.302/.357 for an OPS of .659. McGehee so far has been even worse; 303 AB's, 4/33, and .224/.276/.310 = OPS of .576. I don't know if sending Casey down with help him get straightened out, but Taylor Green seems like a good gamble. He almost certainly couldn't do worse than McGehee offensively and defensively. It might help Casey get back on track going down to the minors. If Green shows he can't handle it, the Brewers can explore other options before the trade deadline. My point is this is not uncharted territory for the Melvin and the Brewers. But this time address the problem before a post all star break swoon.

Does this mean he'll be able to sleep in his own bed?

1250 wssp had a pole on their web page asking what option you would prefer if Casey continues to struggle at third. There were four or five choices, but none were Taylor Green which seems like the most logical. Do they have any clue what's going on?

I too am completely baffled at Gomez in the two hole. It seems like RR is determined to show such blind, over the top faith in this individual that somehow magically he will be rewarded in achieving something no one thought possible - willing Gomez to hit. Why doesn't anyone attack him directly on this issue at the post game pressers? When is Melvin going to step in and say, what the $%&%# are you doing?

The Brewers are 8-19 when allowing opponents to score 1 run or more. In they can toss about 60 shutouts this year it's going to be a good year.

I agree with the premise here, and I do think the Brewers are wasting Rickie's power a bit in the leadoff spot, but I would not move Weeks behind Fielder and Braun. I think Weeks benefits from hitting in front of those guys, as he has a reputation of being a fastball hitter (and fangraphs data would support that). Plop Weeks in the 2 hole, slide everyone back a spot, and I think that's your optimal lineup, in my opinion. I don't know that the % of fastballs would change much to what it is now. Opposing pitchers do have a buffer in between Weeks and Braun/Fielder called Gomez. To me, its logical to have your best OBP guys as far up in the lineup as possible while still being able to drive in runs. Teams would be forced to face Braun and Fielder in the 1st inning every game. Further, Rickie would likely not end up with 30 hr and 60 RBI hitting in the 4 hole. Morgan/Braun/Fielder would remind me a little of Molitor/Yount/Cooper - to go back a few years.

Although it will not happen, Rickie should be in power spot in the lineup. He's developed into less of a leadoff hitter and more of a power hitter the last few years. He never bunts. He runs and steals less. He's been very good w/ RISP, over .300 the last two years. He has more natural power than anyone other than Fielder. In addition, he has matured as a hitter and doesn't look anxious during critical at bats. The argument that he is "comfortable" doesn't fly with me. He's paid a lot of money - do what's best for the team. Morgan Braun Fielder Weeks Hart McGehee Bentacourt Lucroy/pitcher Pitcher/Gomez Platoon Morgan/Gomez, leadoff Weeks against LHP